“Try walking to see if they feel okay,” he suggested.
“That way if there is a problem I can have them—”
“No, it’s bad luck to wear them before the wedding. They’re fine. They feel wonderful.” She slipped them off, put them back in the tissue paper and closed the white box.
“Now, I have one last surprise for you,” Noel said, tucking the box beneath his arm and motioning for her to follow him.
She tagged after him until he stopped one floor up in the sporting goods department.
“Why are we stopping here?” she asked, puzzled.
“I thought we’d go camping.”
“Camping? I hate camping.”
“You’ll like this. Trust me. I’m doing pretty good so far, aren’t I?”
A lot better than pretty good. He was making magic. He was magic. He’d put her under a spell. One she didn’t want to break.
But camping?
He held out his hand for her.
And she said yes, unable to deny him.
He led her to an enclosed tent that was set up for display. It was the size of a large pup tent. Unzipping the flap, he motioned her inside.
She leaned forward and let out a gasp.
Inside the tent were red heart-shaped balloons blown up and floating. And a dish of chocolate-dipped strawberries on a little folding table. It was so romantic. She almost didn’t hear the flap being closed when Noel ducked into the tent with her.
“Did you get any work done today?” she asked, reaching for a strawberry.
“I did this on the sly, just as the store closed. No one can ever find out. It’s our little secret.”
“I’m not telling,” she said, savoring the chocolate-covered strawberry.
“Don’t you think I deserve a little treat myself?” he asked, pulling her into his arms, kissing her a seductive let’s-make-love-right-now kiss.
“You mean here?”
He murmured that he did.
“Now?”
He murmured that he did.
“But—”
“We’re alone and it’s raining outside. Don’t you hear the rain on the tent? Doesn’t it make you feel romantic?”
She did. And it did.
“Can’t go camping in a tie,” she said, undoing the knot and removing the tie from around his neck.
“Or a jacket,” he said, pushing hers off her shoulders and letting it fall to the floor of the tent.
“I’ve been waiting weeks for this,” he said.
“You’ve been planning this for weeks?”
“Uh-huh. And waiting to heal.”
“You must be very frustrated.”
“Very.” He began undoing the vest she’d worn alone under the jacket, kissing her temples as he did so. When he had it unbuttoned, he pushed it aside and reached to free her breast from the cup of her bra, taking it full into his mouth, his tongue swirling over her nipple, making it bud into a pearl.
“This feels so wicked,” she said, her hands busy freeing the buckle of his belt.
“I know,” he answered, undoing the clasp at the front of her sheer blush bra so that he had access to the full playground.
She pulled his belt from the loops and dropped it to the floor, moaning at the caress of his hands and mouth on her as he eased her to the floor.
“I want you naked beneath me,” he said, earnestly undressing her, hurrying.
She was equally hot. Equally ready.
Equally frustrated.
Her hands moved to free him of his shirt, while he worked at his trousers, until they were both naked and entwined limb to limb, lips to lips, heart to heart.
She could feel him hard and insistent against her hip. His tongue was mimicking what he wanted, exploring her mouth with sweet promise.
“I can’t wait any longer,” he rasped.
“Now,” she said, and he slid into her, just as they heard voices and froze.
“I think we’ll set up right here, Jonathon. Is that all right with you, Mr. Baker?” said someone from outside.
“Damn.”
“What is it? Who are they?”
“It’s the store manager. I completely forgot that channel five television was doing a spot for the news tonight about the grand opening.”
“You forgot!” she whispered, feeling herself flush all over beneath him.
“I was busy with other things on my mind,” he murmured, not moving a muscle.
Just then they heard another voice.
“This is Chriss Meyer with Channel Five at the new Bon Marché, which will open its doors in St. Louis tomorrow morning at ten o’clock. We’re in the store now and—”
Hollie felt Noel begin moving inside her.
“What are you doing?” she whispered into his ear, trying not to feel how good it felt. “Are you crazy?”
“I have to, Hollie. I have to.”
“Noel!” she persisted, trying to still him.
“Just don’t yell out my name or anything,” he said, as he ignored her efforts to stop him and began moving in full thrust. “Don’t scream, or we’ll be on the news at eleven.”
Hollie had to use all her willpower not to.
And it was worth every terrifying, thrilling second, as she heard Chriss continue talking in the background, describing the store, while she herself prayed that no one would decide to demonstrate the size of the tent and open the flap.
Noel finally collapsed after one last deep thrust that took them both over the top, with both of them holding their hands over each other’s mouths.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, sweetheart,” he murmured, breathless.
Hollie didn’t answer. She was too busy planning to get even.
At Christmas.
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The 6'1 Grinch Page 14
